Friday, April 19, 2013

This image of the alleged Chechnan terrorist planting a bag full of explosives next to a kid in Boston is seriously disturbing.

Evidently, anti-doping won't be the only concern for cycling in the years going forward. The bombs that went off in Boston raise a disturbing question about other open spectator events of international platform such as the Tour de France.

The TdF may need to seriously rethink their security strategy going forward. What is to stop one from thinking a bomb could detonate next on a mountainous stage in the Giro or the Tour where we know for a fact that there are very few restrictions if any for someone to run and jump in front of cyclists with the intent to cause harm.

Europe has a history of domestic terrorism, I'm guessing this is a new phenomena to most Americans. London was under constant attacks from Irish Republican groups (funded in part from the USA interestingly), mainland Europe suffered under various Red Brigades and Spain fought for years against the exploits of ETA. Vigilance is always good but I wouldn't let yourself be overly worried by it.